About 2 miles away, east on Chambers Road then south on West Florissant Avenue, police and protesters stood in an uneasy truce at the symbol of recent violence.

Police cars and officers in riot gear filled the parking lot of the burned out QuikTrip at West Florissant and Northwinds Estates Drive. Meanwhile, protesters held signs in front of the former QT, and crowds gathered in the middle of West Florissant and along the roadside as cars inched through with horns blaring.